MANILA, Philippines — The testing center for the coronavirus disease (2019) in Marikina City is not yet licensed to operate, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department is still working with the local government unit for “immediate compliance.”
“Not licensed yet but we are working with them for immediate compliance so they can open soon,” she told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
Teodoro earlier said he intends to open the testing center by Friday even though the DOH has not given its approval yet.
However, the DOH warned the local government unit that opening the testing center without the department’s approval may put the city’s residents in harm’s way.
“Hindi po ang DOH ang nag-iipit sa inyo, kami po ay kaalyado niyo sa laban na ito. Ngunit kailangan po nating sundin ang siyensiya at tamang proseso kundi ang mga mamamayan niyo din mismo ang magdudusa dito,” Vergeire earlier said via online press briefing.
The country currently has 16 testing centers capable of testing people for the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus or SARS-CoV 2.